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Refugee Immigration Ministry, Malden, MA, Turns 20
Rev. Constance Hammond addresses 20th anniversary celebrants, including (from left) Ruth Bersin, Eleanor Williams, John Amankwaah, Mohammed Braimah, Shanmugan Ragupathy and Gay Harter.
Photo: Bruce Norskog
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On Oct. 15, 350 supporters gathered for an Odyssey Cruise on Boston Harbor to celebrate Refugee Immigration Ministry's 20th anniversary.
The program included dinner, dance, music, auctions, and awards to RIM’s Malden/Melrose Cluster and to CWS Immigration and Refugee Program Executive Director Joseph Roberson, who gave the keynote address.
In 1986, Rev. Constance Hammond developed RIM as a chaplaincy program for immigration detainees in Boston. RIM enlists community-based support through ecumenical clusters for asylum seekers while they wait for work authorization. There are nine clusters involving more than 50 congregations.
RIM also provides case management to refugees and asylees, a computer lab, ESL tutor training, and low-cost immigration legal services. In December, RIM is launching a Multi-Lingual Help Line. Executive Director Ruth Bersin is joined on staff by Christine Karangwa, Benoit Mudymba, and Andrea de Meo.
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